After 28 years, the Renault Mégane bows out

It was Renault’s mid-range sedan. The Mégane, launched in 1995 to replace the R19, ensured for almost 30 years the offer of the Losange in the premier category in Europe of compact sedans. This competitor of the Peugeot 306, 307 then 308, had found its place by its differentiating proposal, its sympathetic name and its numerous evolutions over the decades, to stay in the game. In station wagon, coupé or even cabriolet in the past, it was since its latest generation, launched in 2016, only available as a 5-door sedan and station wagon. Excluding the four-door variant assembled in Turkey, which was never shown here.

First offered in gasoline and diesel, it was available in plug-in hybrid on the occasion of its 2020 restyling. But lately, its sales had run out of steam, weighed down by internal competition from the Arkana, the Austral, and the electric Mégane E-Tech of course.

A now electric “Mégane”

Launched in 2022, the latter has since represented Renault’s electric offensive. It introduced for the first time the brand new CMF-EV platform, offered on the Ariya by partner Nissan. Thanks to this architecture, it offers a autonomy of 470 kilometers and recharges to 80% in just 29 minutes on a high power charger. Performance superior to that of the Zoé, which had nevertheless popularized electric vehicles at Renault, with a range of 390 kilometers. attributes have encouraged many French people to take the step towards electric and to trust the electric Mégane. Its sales quickly exceeded that of the “good old” thermal and hybrid Mégane, which was inevitably pushed towards the exit. The Mégane PHEV was no longer available to order for several months.

Farewell Megane

Today, the Mégane, the real one, is leaving for good… It is no longer available in the Renault catalog or on the online configurator. Its production at the Spanish factory in Palencia (which already hosts the Austral, the Space and soon the Rafale) should cease in the coming weeks. Not that its electric counterpart, whose sales are very disappointing in the first semester, rushed her out. But she was seriously getting old compared to the competition, and especially against the Peugeot 308. The success of Arkana and Austral is no stranger to this either. Will she go away like this, in general indifference and without leaving a trace, or almost ? As Renault had done for the sporty RS, we would have expected a limited edition, to say goodbye to it with dignity. 28 years of good and loyal service, that’s not nothing…

Read also :

Renault Mégane E-Tech electric test (2022): the electric spearhead of the diamond

Match: the Renault Mégane E-Tech / Zoé E-Tech

The Renault Mégane RS bids farewell